This document outlines some basic conventions for filming and editing documentary footage. It discusses A-roll footage of interviews with subjects, which are usually filmed on a tripod using proper lighting and framing. B-roll footage supplements the interviews and can include establishing shots, archive footage, still photos, and vox pops. An authoritative voice-over narration guides the viewer's understanding and anchors the visuals.

1. Basic Conventions of a
Documentary

2. A-roll footage
• A-roll footage involves interviews with people who are
important to the subject. These are usually filmed with a
camera on a tripod.
• These interviews are usually framed using the ‘rule of thirds’
• The interviewer is often not featured; questions are edited
out.

3. • The subject’s face is always lit from the front, not from behind
– never in front of a window.
• Different interviews are filmed using different shot sizes and
framed to provide variety (e.g. Medium shot, close up, head
on right, ect)
• Background mise en scene is organised to reflect the topic or
personality of the subject.

4. • Blue screen/chroma-key may be used to put relevant images
behind the subject.
• Graphics showing the names of the subjects and other
relevant information are positioned at the bottom of the
screen.

5. Interview framing
Mise en Scene relevant to topic Looking at the interviewer
Bluescreen or Chroma-key Appropriate Location not camera
Rule of thirds
Interviewee
Graphics: Name of interviewee, Clothing to reflect job or
job/relevance personality

6. B-roll footage
• B-roll footage is used to supplement the main interview
footage, edited together between interviews sometimes in a
creative montage.
• Cutaway shots are inserted into interviews sometimes to
illustrate what the subject is talking about.

7. • Establishing shots may be used to identify locations where
people live or where events are taking place.
• Archive footage may be used to illustrate historical facts
• Still photographs may be used to illustrate what is being
spoken about – the camera may pan or zoom in/out on still
photographs.

8. • Vox Pops – sound bites of interviews with ordinary people –
sometimes filmed with hand-held camera.
• A presenter who speaks to the camera and/or voice-over
narration delivering a carefully written script – anchors the
meaning of the visual images and guides the viewer’s
understanding of the topic.

9. • Presenter/voice over narrator usually speaks with an
authoritative voice.
• A non-diegetic musical soundtrack may be used behind the
voice over and may rise in volume when there is no voice
over.